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Hearing is believing?........power cables.......

For anyone who is skeptical about the difference a high quality power cord can make in your high quality audio system........try it.......hearing is believing. About 10 years ago when I bought my first "entry level" hifi system (B&K amp/preamp, Canton speakers) my audio advisor dropped off a Tara Labs Prism power cord. He said just try it for a week and if you don't think it makes a difference just return it. I, like most unfamiliar with high quality cables, was skeptical.......how could a cable 1 meter long from the wall to my equipment make a difference? I put it on the power amp and yes I could definitely tell there was a more defined bass and overall clearer soundscape. I'm a musicians, so I figured maybe the "non audiophile" can't hear the difference. So my brother-in-law who is a bricklayer came over and we did a blind listening test. I randomly switched the Tara, sometimes trying to fool him......told him I switched but didn't........he could tell every time I used the Tara! So I was convinced that it was "wishful thinking on my part or particularly sensitive ears. If you don't think a great power cable can make a difference........take the challenge. Try one for a week and see (hear) for yourself!
mikeelzeysguitarstudio
toddverrone's avatar
toddverrone
840 posts
 
@williewonka holy crap. I have blisters on my hand from making this last cord. Wrapping 12.5' of 12 gauge wire around a fiberglass rod 3 times is hard work. And I'm a rock climber!

The helix cable was made with:
: Silver plated copper sonarquest IEC and mains connectors
:5'  10awg silver plated, teflon insulated copper live conductor
: 12.5'  2x12awg silver plated, teflon insulated copper neutral conductors
: 12.5'  12awg THHN stranded copper ground conductor

Both the connectors and live conductor were used in previous cables, so are somewhat broken in

What I've noticed so far:
: Bass is more powerful and smoother
: Increase in mid and high frequency presence and separation
: A faint hum I've had when using my turnable has been reduced

Differences are relative to my last cable: braided cat 5 plenum, equivalent to 9awg per conductor, with there same connectors (silver plated sonarquest)

I'm hoping that the highs calm down as the cable breaks in. If they don't, I'll have to get the same OCC conductors I have on the PCs on my amps. Or a solid silver conductor.. oooh.
williewonka
3,132 posts
 
Todd - I hear ya (LOL) 

I just finished a 9ft extension cable...

- LIVE: 9ft of DH Labs Power Plus
http://www.silversonic.com/docs/products/PowerPlus.html

- NEUTRAL: 3 x 24 ft -14 gauge conductors - Cryo Mil-Spec silver plated stranded Copper 
https://www.takefiveaudio.com/products/1097-mil-spec-14-awg-silver-plated-copper-cryo-treated-green

- GROUND: 12 gauge Teflon.Copper (home Depot.)

The ground and the neutral conductors provide close to 100% coverage of the live conductor, so it is very well shielded.

The three 14 gauge neutral conductors were coiled onto the rod all at once, but for a cable that long you need a 6ft rod. I had to lay the three neutral conductors out down a hallway to prevent tangles

My thumbs were numb after that, even though I used gloves.

The three 14 awg neutral conductors are equal to a 9 gauge conductor, which makes it a little thicker than the 11awg live conductor. Seems a thicker neutral is the way to go from what I am reading. And it's much easier to wind.

Glad to hear there were mostly positive results, but I agree with your assessment about allowing plenty of time for burn-in - about 50-60 hours should do it, but 100 will be better. The cable should become more mellow, but with much faster dynamics

Did you happen to notice any image improvements - like 
- better 3 dimensional presentation front to back and up and down
- wider image
- image envelopes the listener - i.e. you hear things behind you

You should hear that once you get a Helix IC between the pre/main amps :-)

Keep the updates coming - thanks 
toddverrone's avatar
toddverrone
840 posts
 
You're a pusher! I don't want to disassemble my current Interconnects to build new ones. I'd rather keep them to use between the DAC and pre. So I'll have to wait until I have the cash to buy a new set. If I totally love the helix ICs, then I'd consider dismantling the old set.. though I could gut them and use the two silver conductors to make two sets of ICs. Hmm
randy-11
1,913 posts
 
confirmation bias strikes deep
into your life it will creep
starts when you’re always afraid
...
Hey, what's that sound? 



I guess none of you realize the effect a transformer has on noise transmission(?)


toddverrone's avatar
toddverrone
840 posts
 
@randy-11 want a hug?
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